Line-up announced for BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify

New, must-attend event for musicians and music obsessives marks 10 years of BBC Introducing

Devised by the world’s leading events company, SME London, in conjunction with BBC Music Introducing to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Amplify is the first event its kind.

Between 6 and 8 October 2017 at London’s ExCel, Amplify will immerse musicians in a world of music, providing a platform to connect with the biggest industry names via workshops, talks and one-on-ones; all aimed at getting out there and even taking your own music to the next level.

Whether a musician, future industry heavyweight or simply a music fan, Amplify offers masterclasses, advice and the equipment needed to make it big in the music business.

Amplify will feature…

More than 250 industry speakers including:

The Libertines, Blossoms, The Courteeners, Hurts, Frank Carter, Becky Hill, Bugzy Malone, Creeper, The Hunna, Ray BLK, Annie Mac, Jo Whiley, Steve Lamacq, Annie Nightingale, Huw Stephens, MistaJam, Jamie Cullum, Phil Taggart, Bob Harris, Danny Howard, Tom Robinson, DJ Target, Twin B, Monki, Abbie Mcarthy, Sophie Little, Georgie Rogers, Yasser, and more to be announced…

Plus: record labels, heads of music, radio stations, producers, commissioners

More than 100 sessions, including:

• How to write a hit record
• Grime is the new DIY
• How to get a million streams 
• A guide to self-releasing your music
• From your bedroom to Ibiza
• How to run a label

 Plus:

• The brand new BBC Music Introducing Feedback Centre
• Performances on the Introducing Bandstands in association with Sentric Music 
• More than 150 music and lifestyle brands
• Vinyl marketplace hosted by the team behind Record Store Day

 Tickets for Amplify at London ExCeL are on sale now at www.introducingamplify.com/tickets

27th July 2017

The Libertines, Blossoms, The Courteeners, Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, Jo Wiley and Steve Lamacq have today been announced as part of the stellar line-up of artists, DJs and music industry experts set to appear at the new, must-attend event for all musicians and music obsessives - BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify, which marks 10 years since the launch of BBC Introducing.

Staged at London Excel between October 6 and 8, Amplify will immerse musicians in a world of music, providing a platform to connect with the biggest industry names via workshops, talks and one-on-ones; all aimed at getting out there and even taking your own music to the next level.

With more than 100 sessions and 250 speakers, Amplify will feature opportunities to get advice and inspiration from some of the stars that have thrived via BBC Music Introducing over the last decade, such as Blossoms, The Hunna and Bugzy Malone. With more names to be announced soon, the artists will be on hand to offer guidance to aspiring artists and share crucial advice on how to break into the business. 

Some of the UK’s best-known DJs will also appear at Amplify with Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, Jo Whiley, Jamie Cullum, Danny Howard, Phil Taggart, MistaJam and more fronting sessions designed to give the audience the best advice on how to make it big. 

Amplify will also debut the all-new BBC Music Introducing Feedback Centre, offering musicians a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get one-on-one advice, and have their tracks listened to by industry experts. 

Tickets are on sale now at https://introducingamplify.com/tickets

Sessions across the three days will include: 

• From your bedroom to Ibiza
• Do you need a manager? 
• How to write a hit record 
• How to get a million streams 
• Grime is the new DIY
• A guide to self releasing music 
• Bad online? How to be good at social media 
• How to run a label 
• The A&R Masterclass
• Heads of Label masterclass

The full line-up of sessions can be seen at: https://introducingamplify.com/programme. 

There will also be access to the newest equipment and tools catering for everyone who wants a career in music. Brands that will be on site include Yamaha, Shure, AWAL, Focusrite and IK Multimedia. 

Amplify will also celebrate the resurgence of vinyl that has seen sales rocket by 36% already this year at the Vinyl Marketplace hosted by ERA – the team behind Record Store Day, and showcase the latest emerging talent on the Introducing Bandstands in association with Sentric Music. Plus, there will be an array of more than 150 music and lifestyle brands that will offer the industry’s latest products and services.

With more superstar names to be announced, Amplify provides a platform for musicians to be bigger, better, louder and more successful than ever, stamping it as a must attend. 

Tickets are on sale now with a limited amount of first release tickets at £26 are available. Tickets can be purchased from http://www.theticketfactory.com/bbc-music-introducing/online/ or https://introducingamplify.com/tickets

Anyone booking tickets will get 25% off train tickets to the event with Virgin Trains on the West Coast mainline (full details below). 

Amplify is timed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BBC Music Introducing – a decade which has helped launch the careers of Florence and the Machine, The 1975, Wretch 32, Slaves, Catfish and the Bottlemen, James Bay, George Ezra, Jack Garratt, Slaves, Gabrielle Aplin, Rizzle Kicks, Little Simz, Blossoms and many more. Coordinated by experienced events organisers, SME London, Amplify is set to help continue the search for emerging talent by providing the perfect compilation of support and guidance. 

Based around The Amp – the hub and hangout space of the event – Amplify will bring together a host of stages and events to provide the ultimate experience: 

• The Journey Stage in association with AWAL: The Journey Stage in association with AWAL is set to host captivating headline talks from some of the biggest artists around. These particular sessions will offer exclusive guidance to up-and-coming artists - with acts talking about how they made their break, and what they’ve learned over the years being successful musicians. 

• Industry Sessions powered by SoundCloud: Spread across 10 theatres, these discussions and hands-on workshops will offer an insight on key elements to consider in the music industry, such as: how to reach a wider audience and informative suggestions on how to kick-off a small yet rewarding recording label. The sessions will also offer necessary guidance on how to get your music on the radio, whether you actually need a manager in order to succeed in today’s industry and will provide helpful intuition on how to write that hit record.
• BBC Music Introducing Feedback Centre: Meet with a host of BBC Music Introducing and industry staff, with tips and advice on how to make your break.
• The Bandstands in association with Sentric Music: With a notable tradition in showcasing unsigned artists, the Introducing Bandstands will continue that ritual by airing some of the finest up and coming talent the UK has to offer across four stages – with the inclusion of fun ‘open mic’ sessions, too.
• Vinyl Marketplace: The Vinyl Market is set to host expansive stalls of fresh vinyl produce available to purchase, curated and hosted by ERA – the team behind Record Store Day.

It’s never been harder to break into the music industry than right now - people don’t know how to get their music heard or where to go for expert advice. That’s why we’ve created Amplify, to guide people through the minefield and help them grab that big break. Never before under one roof have the key industry makers and breakers been ready to sit and listen to music and questions in this way. It’s a truly unique offering that no one who dreams of making it should miss. BBC Music Introducing has been responsible for breaking household names, they are the perfect partner and I’m really excited about discovering the next big talent at Amplify.

BBC Music Introducing has been discovering and supporting the best new artists in the country for the past 10 years, and we are excited to be bringing all the best music industry experience and knowledge under one roof at Amplify this year.

For the last decade, BBC Introducing has been unparalleled when it comes to supporting unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians and artists. It's an honour and a privilege to be part of the Amplify event to help invest in the next generation of artists and music industry professionals.

As anyone who has listened to my shows on Radio 1 or Radio 2 knows, I am passionate about giving up-and-coming musicians the chance to get heard and break into the mainstream.  From a 19-year-old Adele doing her first performances, to seeing Coldplay taking their initial steps towards superstardom and the emergence of Biffy Clyro, I feel privileged to have been at the beginning of so many journeys. Amplify is going to give countless bands from around the country their chance to do this and make their music heard. I am so excited about being a part of it and discovering brand new talent at Amplify.”

In 2011, an 18-year-old Jake Bugg turned up to a BBC Music Introducing masterclass with some homemade cheese and pickle sandwiches and a load of demo CDs. He had a couple of really good songs even back then, so we played him on my show and the rest, as they say, is history. BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify gives us another massive opportunity to find someone else who can go on to headline festivals and tour the world. It’s really exciting the number of young people who’ll be travelling from all over the country, for a chance to have their music heard and questions answered.”

I started playing in bands at 13. I thought the code was, write a great song, get signed and live the rest of your life in rock and roll opulence. Just over half my life later I have realised that's not the case. Amplify is here to give every aspect of grass roots music the full knowledge 360. If you are serious about your sounds then pull yourself down to this.

The growth of streaming has changed the dynamics of the music industry and artists now have more opportunity to become successful, independent artists than ever before. But with the pace of change in the industry, developing artists need support and information to navigate the new music ecosystem and understand who can help them get to the next stage of their career. That's why AWAL is teaming up with SME and BBC to sponsor insightful and inspirational interviews with some of the most influential UK artists to share how they made it and how the next generation of artists can learn from their career journeys.

When we founded Sentric Music 10 years ago, our mission was to help young artists turn their talent and passion into a living. We saw how complicated the world of music publishing in particular could be for inexperienced songwriters and we thought there had to be a better way. To be involved in an event like this is perfect for us because it touches on key aspects of our business – finding exciting emerging talent, providing them with a platform and helping them navigate an incredibly daunting industry. With some great acts billed for the Bandstands and heavyweight industry names across the wider event, this is one that can’t be missed.

<ENDS>

Notes to editors 

For more information, please contact: 

Becky Anderson / Carver PR 

becky.anderson@carverpr.co.uk

07921 335 222 / 0207 272 0877

About BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify 

 BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify offers all aspiring artists and musicians exclusive access to the UK music industry’s biggest names. With intimate talks, music master-classes and recording workshops from industry figures and the stars that have been born by BBC Music Introducing, Amplify is a must-attend for any artist of any level.  

Follow BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify on social media via:

Twitter: @BBCAmplify

Facebook: Facebook.com/IntroducingAmplify

Instagram: @IntroducingAmplify

About BBC Music 

 BBC Music is the corporation’s strongest commitment to music in 30 years – comprising of new partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives led by Director Bob Shennan.  Initiatives include the classical music initiative for schools ‘Ten Pieces’, BBC Music Day, the Mercury Prize and for BBC One, the BBC Music Awards, Bublé at the BBC, and the Bafta-nominated Adele at the BBC.  BBC Music: My Generation has celebrated the musical decades with programming across radio, television and online, including films profiling the early years on Tom Jones, Keith Richards, Boy George, Jazzie B and Geri Horner. BBC Music recently announced a historic deal to bring the glory of Glastonbury to BBC audiences for the next five festivals until 2022.   BBC Music exclusively commission programming for BBC iPlayer, and festivals, including Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend, come alive on our digital platforms, with world leading coverage. The BBC Music website is your first step to a personalised music service with playlists of your favourite tracks and the ability to follow the artists you love. In February 2016, a brand new BBC Music app was launched, packed with exclusive music performances, interviews and playlists from across BBC TV, Radio and Online and tailored to your musical taste.

About BBC Music Introducing

With over 460,000 tracks uploaded to the BBC Music Introducing website and 170,000 artists registered since its launch in 2007, BBC Music Introducing supports unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar music, propelling emerging artists onto the national stage through BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, Radio 3, Asian Network and World Service. BBC Music Introducing also provides up-and-coming artists with broadcast opportunities on television and online as well as the chance to perform at major festivals and showcases. Big name artists including Florence and The Machine, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Slaves, Jack Garratt, The 1975, Jake Bugg, Rae Morris, James Bay, Izzy Bizu and George Ezra all received BBC Music Introducing support at the start of their careers.

About SME London

BBC Music Introducing hosts Amplify Live is produced by SME London Ltd under license from the BBC. SME London Ltd is one of the most respected and trusted exhibition organisers in the UK.  The team at SME is highly experienced in the launch and management of major consumer exhibitions. The company’s credits include The BBC Good Food Show, London Fashion Week, The British international Motor Show, BBC Countryfile Live, The House and Garden Fair and the BBC’s Doctor Who Festival.

www.smelondon.co.uk 

Virgin Trains offer

• Anyone booking through the Amplify ticketing partner, The Ticket Factory will get 25% off tickets with Virgin Trains on the West Coast mainline. 
• Tickets are valid on Virgin Trains 
• The discount is valid on both Standard or First Class Advance
• Maximum of 9 adult passengers per booking. No further discounts apply
• There's no credit card or booking fees when you book through virgintrains.com
• Once you’ve booked your ticket, you must show your event ticket/registration, along with your Virgin Trains ticket when on board for your discount to be valid.

About PRS for Music

PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com